Commissioners discuss property rights amid growing pains
Boundary County Commissioners Ben Robertson (left) and Tim Bertling at the July Joint County and Cities meeting.
Photo by EMILY BONSANT
BONNERS FERRY — On Aug. 14, a county resident asked Boundary County commissioners to put a 10-year moratorium on all development and subdividing and asked them to reopen old Paradise Valley Road.
Judith H. “Holly” Beaudet brought her concerns about the county's growing population and housing prices to the commissioners. Increased traffic and additional housing are being built while many water districts lack water levels to serve additional housing, she said.
She requested the commissioners consider a moratorium on all development and subdividing across the county.
Commissioner chairman Tim Bertling said he was not in favor of taking away anyone’s private property rights and that doing so could open the county up to a lawsuit.
Beaudet went on to say the moratorium could have specifics allowing those who have owned the land for a decade or longer to be grandfathered in for subdividing or building. She said this “gives the most amount of rights for those who have lived here the longest.”
“That’s not how America works,” Commissioner Ben Robertson chimed in. “Speaking for myself, I don’t like the growing traffic, but I’m not going to tell someone they can’t build on their property.”
Beaudet said Robertson, as well as all the commissioners, were elected to represent people in the county.
Robertson agreed that he was elected to represent all of the people in the county, both new and longtime residents.
Beaudet also informed the commissioners that the old Paradise Valley Road would be a great spot for a county trail and that she was doing research on who owned the easement. She also suggested that having the old road maintained could be a great escape route for residents in case of a fire or natural disaster.
The road can be accessed near Grandview Cemetery on the south hill in Bonners Ferry.
The commissioners are already in the process with the Idaho Transportation Department to form a county trail at the old highway on the north hill, commonly known as Mudslide Hill.
Commissioner Wally Cossairt said the commissioners are already in the process of starting on the county trail project, but that they would keep the suggestion in mind in regard to old Paradise Valley Road.